Track locating device for toy trains



March 25, 1952 w. HENDERSON 2,590,317

' TRACK LOCATING DEVICE FOR TOY TRAINS Filed May 25, 1948 IJIJIJJII, E I

IN E TOR.

; WoIterH so BY en n Attornev Patented Mar. 25,1952

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Application May 25, 1948, Serial No. 29,068 8 Claims. (01. 104-264)- 1 -My invention relates to track locating devices for toy trains.

One of the difiiculties in operating toy trains is the locating of the trucks or wheels of the locomotive and cars of the train upon the rails of the train tracks. Therefore, I have provided a track locating device by means of which the locomotive and the various cars may be quickly and easily located upon the rails of the said train track.

1 An important object of my invention is to provide a track locating device that is so designed that it may be placed in alignment upon a section of the train track for the purpose of locating the car wheels upon the rails of the train track.

A further object of my invention is to provide a number of converging guide rail portions on the said track locating device so formed as to permit a train car to be readily placed between the widest oi. the said converging rail portions so that by moving the said train car forward the converging tracks will cause the car trucks to locate themselves automatically in proper relationship with the rails of the train track upon which the locating device has been placed.

' A further object of my invention is to provide rail engaging angle portions on either end of my track locating device to insure a proper alignment of my said track locating device with the train track upon which it has been placed. v

A still further object of my invention is to provide a track locating device for toy trains formed in one piece to enable its economical production in large quantities.

Other objects and advantages embraced in my invention will be disclosed in the following description and in the accompanying illustrations in which like parts are designated by like numerals, and in which;

Figure 1 is? top view of my invention shown in connection with a section of toy train tracks drawn in phantom lines- Figure 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of my invention taken substantially on line 2-2 on Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of my invention showing a toy train car drawn in phantom lines in position thereon.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view of my invention taken substantially on line 4-4 of Figure 2.

Referring to the illustrations my invention is generally designated 5 and consists of track eating means 6 which is preferably formed of a single piece of light weight sheet metal. The said track locating means 6 has a bed portion [5 with flanged side portions I as shown in Figures 2 and 3. A number of converging guide rail .portions designated 8, 9, and II] are formed on the bed portion [5. The said track locating means 6 as shown in Figures 1 and 3 is substantially wider than the train track 14 upon which it has been placed. This provides ample space for a train car, designated IE, to be placed with its car trucks l1 between the converging rail portions 8 without the car trucks l1 necessarily contacting either of the said guide rail portions 8 as shown in Figures 1 and 3. Each of the guide rail portions 8, 9, and I ll converge from the edges of the bed portion Hi to points in the center thereof approximately the width of the train track [4. The converging guide rail portions 9 serve generally as a connecting link between the converging guide rail portions 8 and the converging guide rail portions Hi to guide the trucks I! of the train car 5 finally upon train track M by means of the downwardly tapered end portions II. The track locating means 6 is located upon train track [4 by cut-out rail locating portions I2 and I3, one at either end thereof. The rail engaging angle portions I9 thus formed fit between the rails of train track I4 as shown in Figure 3 providing fool-proof locating means thereof. As the train car I6 is moved forward in the direction of arrow H3 in Figure 3, its forward car trucks I! will engage the converging inner ends of guide rail portions 8, 9, and I0 and will be guided by means of downwardly tapered end portions I l onto the rails of track Hi. When the train has been properly assembled upon track M the track locating device 6 is removed therefrom.

By using my track locating device an entire toy train may be quickly assembled upon the train track without the usual trouble and bother of improperly located car trucks which prevent the movement of the train.

My track locating device may be placed upon or taken from any section of the train track instantly and with no bothersome manipulation.

Although my invention has been described, the terms used are to be deemed terms of description rather than terms of limitation, my intention being to retain the right to all mechanical equivalents of the structural elements depicted, provided they fall within the purview of the appended claims.

Having thusdisclosed and revealed my invention, what I claim as new and desire to-secure by Letters Patent is:

- 1. Track locating meansfor toy trains Icomprising. abed portion'substantially wider'than a toy train track to which it may be attached, resilient rail locating means at the front and rear ends of the said bed portion engaging the inner sides of the rails of said toy train track in snap-on and ofi relationships supporting the said bed on the top surfaces of the said toy train track, the said bed portion being at least twice the length of a toy train to be aligned thereby, and converging guide rail means of greater magnitude than the'width of .the said toy train track tapering inwardly to a width equivalent to that of the said toy train track.

2. Track locating means for toy trains comprising, a bed portion substantially wider than a toy train track to which it may be attached and provided with side flange reinforcement means, resilient rail locating means at the front andrear ends of the said bed portion engaging the inner sides of the rails of said toy train track in snapon and off relationships supporting the said bed on the top surfaces of the said toy train track, the said bed portion being at least twice the length of a toy train to be aligned thereby, and converging guide rail means of greater magnitude than the width of the said toy train track at the rear end of the said bed portion tapering inwardly to a width equivalent to that of the said toy train track at the front end of the bed portion, the said converging guide rail means being formed above the surface of the said bed portion and tapering downwardly toward the said front end of said bed portion where the said guide rail means taper inwardly so as to merge with the upper surface of the said toy train track.

3. Track locating means for toy trains comprising, a bed portion substantially wider than a toy train track to which it may be attached and provided with side flange reinforcement means, rail locating means forming resilient rail engaging angle portions at the front and rear ends of the said bed portion engaging the inner sl des of the rails of said toy train track in snap-on and off relationships supporting the said bed on the top surfaces of the said toy train track, the said bed portion being at least twice the length of a toy train to be aligned thereby, and converging guide rail means of greater magnitude than the width of the said toy train track tapering inwardly to a width equivalent to that of the said toy train track.

4. Track locating means for toy trains comprising, a bed portion substantially wider than a toy train track to which it may be attached and provided with side flange reinforcement means, rail locating means forming resilient rail engaging angle portions at the front and rear ends of the said bed portion engaging the inner sides of the rails of said toy train track in snap-on and off relationships supporting the said bed on the top surfaces of the said toy train track, the said bed portion being at least twice the length of a toy train to be'aligned thereby, and converging guide rail means of greater magnitude than the width of the said toy train track at one end of the said .bed portion tapering inwardly to a width equivalent to that of the said toy train track at the other end of the said bed portion, the said converging guide rail means being formed above the surface of the said bed portion and tapering downwardly toward the portionwhere the said guide rail means taper inwardly so as to merge with the upper surface of the said toy train track.

5. Track locating means for toy trainscomprising, a bed portion substantially wider than a toy train track to which it may be attached and provided with side flange reinforcement means, resilient rail locating means at the front and rear ends of the said bed portion engaging the inner sides of the rails of said toy train track in snap-on and off relationships supporting the said bed on the top surfaces of the said toy train track, the said bed portion being at least twice the length of a, toy train to be aligned thereby, and converging guide rail means of greater magnitude than the width of the'said toy train track tapering inwardly to a width equivalent to that of the said toy train track, the said converging guide rail means including a multiple number of guide rail sections to facilitate locating the front and rear trucks of a toy train.

6. Track locating means for toy trains comprising, a bed portion substantially wider than a toy train track to which it may be attached and provided with side flange reinforcement means, resilient rail locating means at the front and rear ends of the said bed portion engaging the inner sides of the rails ofsaid' toy train track in snap-on and off relationships supporting the said bed on the top surfaces of the said toy train track, the said bed portion being at least twice the length of a toy train to be aligned thereby, and converging guide rail means of greater mag: nitude than the width of the said toy train track tapering inwardly to a width equivalent'to that of the said toy train track, the said converging guide rail means being formed above the surface of the said bed portion and tapering downwardly toward the portion where the said guide rail means taper inwardly so as to merge with the upper surface of the said toy train track, the said converging guide rail means including a multiple number of guide rail sections to facilitate locating the front and rear trucks of a toy train.

'7. Track locating means for toy trains comprising, a bed portion substantially wider than a toy train track to which it may be attached and provided with side flange reinforcement means, rail locating means forming resilient rail engaging angle portions at the front and rear ends of the said bed portion engaging the inner sides of the rails of said toy train track in snap-on and off relationships supporting the said bed on the top surfaces of the said toy train track, the said bed portion being at least twice the length of a toy train to be aligned thereby, and convergingguide rail means of greater magnitude than the width of the said toy train track tapering inwardly to a width equivalent to that of the said toy train track, the said converging guide rail means including a multiple number of guide rail sections to facilitate locating the front and rear trucks of a toy train.

8. Track locating means for top trains comprising, a bed portion substantially wider than a toy train track to which it may be attached and provided with side flange reinforcement means, rail locating means forming resilient'rail engaging angle portions at the front and rear ends of the said bed portion engaging the inner sides of the rails of said toy train track in snap-on and off relationships supporting the said bed on the top surfaces of the said toy train track, the said bed portion being at least twice the length of a toy train to be aligned thereby, and converging guide rail means of greater magnitude than the width of the said toy train track tapering inwardly to a width equivalent to that of the said toy train track, the said converging guide railmeansbeing formed above the surface of the said bed portion and tapering downwardly at the portion where the said guide rail means taper inwardly so as to merge with the upper" surface of the said toy train track, the said converging guide rail means including a multiple numlier of guide railsections to facilitate locating the front and rear trucks of a toy train.

WALTER HENDERSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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